Does this Xenia need more flow

[Karen00]

Hello fellow saltines,

I just added this Xenia frag a couple days ago. It has al.ost doubled in height but it's feathers (is that what the tips are called) are a little closed. Sometimes some of them open fully.

I only had the stock pump prior to adding this frag. Now there is a Sicce Voyager Nano 1000 powerhead on one side of the tank. Currently the powerhead is pointing horizontal higher up. Should I point it down and/or should I add a second pump to the other side. You can see the powerhead and Xenia (right below the powerhead) in the FTS. I have been moving the Xenia around but it hasn't made much difference. Maybe it also needs more light? Lominie Pixie 30

Cespitularia/Xenia Coral

Edit: Added the video.

 

[PP123]

Hi there

Flows seems fine from what i can see... it's an easy coral to keep so just leave it for a while and it will settle in..

Most people worry more about it taking over all the rock work in the tank.. eventually you'll need to frag it back but that's pretty simple.

It's a nice coral to start with and adds movement and will use up any extra nutrients in the water..

 

[Karen00]

Hi there

Flows seems fine from what i can see... it's an easy coral to keep so just leave it for a while and it will settle in..

Most people worry more about it taking over all the rock work in the tank.. eventually you'll need to frag it back but that's pretty simple.

It's a nice coral to start with and adds movement and will use up any extra nutrients in the water..

Thanks so much! I was absolutely debating getting this coral because I read about its invasiveness but supposedly this type grows slowly although that remains to be seen. Haha. It's such a pretty coral. Too bad it gets so crazy! I might have buyer's remorse in the not too distant future. LOL. I'm impressed with how much taller it has gotten. It was just a little button when I bought it however the guy at my LFS said it should be taller. He told me he just moved it so it was ticked off. I was so happy to see it seemingly get back to the height he said it should by the next day but I wasn't sure if its tips weren't happy. They look a little scrunched. Admittedly I keep moving it so I will leave it alone to see how it responds.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Xenia doesn't mind getting blown around in high flow environments. It does, in fact, seem to appreciate that, even though you won't get to see the polyps pulse under really high flow.

It's slightly less invasive than something like a Kenya Tree, but only by a matter of a degree or so. I bought one small Frag last March, and then moved that around to two other builds, where it quickly established new colonies on surrounding rocks. It's also one of the few corals that thrive in a high-nutrient environment which will quickly kill SPS, and that's why it can run rampant in new tanks. It is a lovely coral, though.

 

[Karen00]

Xenia doesn't mind getting blown around in high flow environments. It does, in fact, seem to appreciate that, even though you won't get to see the polyps pulse under really high flow.

It's slightly less invasive than something like a Kenya Tree, but only by a matter of a degree or so. I bought one small Frag last March, and then moved that around to two other builds, where it quickly established new colonies on surrounding rocks. It's also one of the few corals that thrive in a high-nutrient environment which will quickly kill SPS, and that's why it can run rampant in new tanks. It is a lovely coral, though.

Thanks for this! I'm staring at the frag with conflicting emotions... half of me wants it to thrive and half of me wants it to perish. LOL. I'm wondering if I should pull it out. I wish it could survive low brackish water. I would love to throw it in that tank! I'm a bit worried this pump might not have enough power. I've been moving the head around but I'm not getting much action from it. I might have to upgrade to the Sicce 2000.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Thanks for this! I'm staring at the frag with conflicting emotions... half of me wants it to thrive and half of me wants it to perish. LOL. I'm wondering if I should pull it out. I wish it could survive low brackish water. I would love to throw it in that tank! I'm a bit worried this pump might not have enough power. I've been moving the head around but I'm not getting much action from it. I might have to upgrade to the Sicce 2000.

You've heard the expression that xenia likes "dirty" tanks, and that's certainly true in my experience: it does well in environments with high nitrates and phosphates where SPS struggles to thrive. Perhaps your nutrients are too low.

 

[Karen00]

You've heard the expression that xenia likes "dirty" tanks, and that's certainly true in my experience: it does well in environments with high nitrates and phosphates where SPS struggles to thrive. Perhaps your nutrients are too low.

It's possible. I have to retest because I did a big water change before adding this. I will check on that.

 

[Just John]

Thanks for this! I'm staring at the frag with conflicting emotions... half of me wants it to thrive and half of me wants it to perish. LOL. I'm wondering if I should pull it out. I wish it could survive low brackish water. I would love to throw it in that tank! I'm a bit worried this pump might not have enough power. I've been moving the head around but I'm not getting much action from it. I might have to upgrade to the Sicce 2000.

With mine, high flow is fine, low flow is fine, but virtually no flow is not good. If it is moving at all from the flow, it should be fine. Xenia uses the pulsing to move water around the tips (no need to go into the details of why unless you really want me to) moving "fresh" water around the polyps. No flow means the old water just hovers around the xenia and no "fresh" water is there at all after a while.

 

[Karen00]

With mine, high flow is fine, low flow is fine, but virtually no flow is not good. If it is moving at all from the flow, it should be fine. Xenia uses the pulsing to move water around the tips (no need to go into the details of why unless you really want me to) moving "fresh" water around the polyps. No flow means the old water just hovers around the xenia and no "fresh" water is there at all after a while.

Thanks so much! This is good to know. I have movement (just a gentle swaying) so hopefully it's enough. I will keep an eye on it. Feel free to post details on how these guys move water around. I love learning new info.

 

[Just John]

Thanks so much! This is good to know. I have movement (just a gentle swaying) so hopefully it's enough. I will keep an eye on it. Feel free to post details on how these guys move water around. I love learning new info.

Here is a more detailed explanation:

https://reefbuilders.com/2013/04/30/pulsing-xenia-mystery-solved/

 

[A;exr54]

My Xenia will live and thrive in any flow. It honestly can’t be killed. I need to pull and toss.
It’s invasive for me at this point.
I even found some growing in my refugium.
If conditions are good, Xenia does not care about flow.

 

[BanjoBandito]

I don't care what anyone says I love xenias in the aquarium. Super cool lil' guy, it's a shame they got such a bad rap!

 

[Karen00]

Here is a more detailed explanation:

https://reefbuilders.com/2013/04/30/pulsing-xenia-mystery-solved/

Wow, amazing! It's always good to know the "why" of things. In some cases knowing this makes rectifying problems easier.

 

[Karen00]

I don't care what anyone says I love xenias in the aquarium. Super cool lil' guy, it's a shame they got such a bad rap!

I agree, they are so beautiful! I love watching my little frag. I need to find a way to balance the nutrients. Keep nutrients good so the xenia is healthy but not so good that it becomes invasive. LOL

 

[Just John]

I agree, they are so beautiful! I love watching my little frag. I need to find a way to balance the nutrients. Keep nutrients good so the xenia is healthy but not so good that it becomes invasive. LOL

Don't listen to xenia haters. It never spreads.

 

[Aiptaisia anemone]

Don't listen to xenia haters. It never spreads.

That’s so beautifu.